Gas Questions

Chris V

What does a Handfull of rust particles on a gas hot water heater burner mean? Is it caused by condensation when the hwh is over drawn?
On gas Boilers, can a partially plugged boiler section cause the atmospheric burners to impinge on the boiler?
Thanks.

Ken_8

It's a sure sign of

the center baffle/"turbulater" that runs from the combustion area to the draft hood - scaling and rusting and down the HX center and THAT rust and scale dropping onto the typically inverted burner "dome."

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Steamhead

Plugged gas boilers

may be caused by flame impingement, not the other way around. But you'll want to check everything on that boiler- especially the chimney, smoke pipe, input rate, and air shutters. Use a digital combustion analyzer to make sure it's burning clean. A dirty fire will also produce carbon monoxide, which is very, very bad.

If you haven't seen Tim McElwain's gas training manuals, I highly recommend them. His Fundamentals manual has an excellent chapter on Carbon Monoxide. Tim will send you a catalog if you e-mail him at gastc@cox.net .

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Unknown

Gas question

The rust on the water heater burner is pretty typical of water heaters today. Especially if they are operating in a damp wet basement environment. You also want to make sure the air in the room containing the water heater is not contaminated with Hydro carbons or flourocarbons from paints, thinners, bleaches and other things typically stored in the basement area. Most center flue water heaters have baffle up thru the center flue if this is rusting and starting to decompose this will also cause these deposits. If the flue gases are condensing in the water heater for long periods of time this will cause damage. The condensate on a water heater should cease dripping in less than 20 minutes anything longer than that is a problem not the least of which could be a small water leak in the seam or top of the center flue heater.

In the case of the boiler it is usually the other way around the burner flame impinging on the cooler boiler surface will cause it to carbon up. Make sure the burner is not out of position. Also make sure that one burner has the correct orifice size and is not overgassed. Check to make sure there is no blockage inside the burner. Last of all if equipped with an air shutter adjust for a blue, steady and stable blue flame. The flame should not be lifting or floating around.